After the German conquest of France in 1940, the opening of a second front in western Europe was a major aim of Allied strategy during World War 2. On June 6, 1944, under the code name Operation "Overlord," US, British and Canadian troops landed on the beaches of Normandy. Under overall command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower and, on the ground, of British General Bernard Montgomery, more than 130,000 allied troops landed on five beaches. There code names are Omaha, Gold, Juno, Sword, and Utah. The invasion force of more than 150,000 troops included 50,000 vehicles (including 1,000 tanks). Nearly 7,000 naval craft and more than 11,500 aircraft supported the big invasion. On D-Day, the Allies landed 11 divisions on the French coast, but failed in reaching their planned objective of linking the beachheads. The Allies had an overwhelming advantage and a victorist win. (Holocaust History).
WORKS CITED
"Holocaust History." D-Day. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, 11 May 2012. Web. 05 Sept. 2012. <http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005158>.
"French going to war" http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005158